Islamabad: Pakistan has two weeks to perform or perish. The US Central Command chief Gen David Petraeus has given Pakistan the ultimatum.
Briefing top administration officials Petraeus warned saying, "The Pakistanis have run out of excuses. We've heard it all before. I'm looking to see concrete action by the government to destroy the Taliban in the next two weeks before determining the United States' next course of action."
Petraeus did not outline what the next course of action could be but his definition of the Pakistani Army as being "superior" to President Zardari's civil administration was ominous hinting that Zardari's days maybe numbered.
Meanwhile, remarks from the US has prompted a furious rejoinder from the Pakistani prime minister.
Yousaf Raza Gilani said, “America supported Musharraf, a dictator, for nine years. So naturally, the civil government was weakened. But now, god willing, Pakistani institutions are in working order.”
Not that Washington doesn't have doubts about the army's capability to defeat the Taliban, the army is yet to dislodge the Taliban from strongholds in Buner as fighting continues in Ambela and other places.
However, the locals said, "There is bombing from the goverment and the Taliban, we cannot stay."
A less than encouraging sign as US Congress debates an infusion of $400 million in aid to Islamabad.
The government is now trying to revive the faltering peace process and resumed the dialogue with Sufi Mohammad. But with what aim is not clear.
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